Volume 88, Issue 5

No single studies on the Burmese Red Serows, a little known bovid to date yet considered as nationally endangered species, have been conducted in Bangladesh. As part of a systematic wildlife inventory and monitoring project, this study utilized 48 camera traps to elucidate their occurrence, activity pattern and possible sympatric association with other artiodactyls species inhabiting Baraiyadhala National Park. The study found 25 independent serow events with relative abundance index (RAI) of 0.89. The number of individuals seems low, but this is by far the country’s stronghold population. The Red Serows are mostly nocturnal and showed moderate temporal activity with barking dear (∆1 = 0.59) and wild boar (∆1 = 0.62) in this area. Anthropogenic pressures due to tourists (RAI = 4.8) and poachers (RAI = 1.7) were highly evident and must have negative impact on overall wildlife of the national park. The study suggests similar studies in adjacent protected area (Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary), habitat protection and restoration program, and awareness raising program targeting forest dependent communities for long term conservation of this species.

The determination of suitable habitats and roadkill hotspots allows for the prioritization of areas of conservation and the identification of road sections that require appropriate planning and development. Understanding the factors that influence the species’ presence and those contributing to its road-related fatalities is crucial. This study demonstrates the use of MaxEnt modeling to map the potential distribution of the striped hyaena ( Hyaena hyaena ) in Batna province (East Algeria) using occurrence records and a set of environmental variables. The results indicated that the two primary environmental variables that influence the distribution of the species are the shrubland, and the slope with a contribution of 37.5 and 30.2 %, respectively, followed by built-up areas (12 %) and distance to roads (7.2 %). The species may occupy steep terrain with shrubland near anthropized areas. Road collisions represent a threat to the species, with 28 documented casualties from 2010 to 2020 in Batna. The kernel density estimation revealed an important roadkill hotspot along the national roads 3 and 28. This study represents a preliminary step for the use of wildlife ecological niche modeling and road management in Algeria.

Very little is known about the range, diet and eco-ethology of the African striped hyena, compared to its sympatric hyena species; the spotted hyena. Here we present the results of bone assemblages collected in eight striped hyena dens located in a pastoralists’ area in and near the Shompole conservancy, southern Kenya. We present the dens taxonomical representation; comparing domestic and wildlife prey and their prey age structure. This is to aid in making inferences on the striped hyena’s prey acquisition, selection and mode of transportation. Ultimately, this is to highlight the species’ interaction with pastoralists and some eco-ethological features of this little known near threatened species. Total wildlife proportions were higher than livestock. However, both wild and domestic ungulates are the major prey of the striped hyena and carnivores constitute a greater proportion of its non-ungulate prey. Striped hyena appears to predate on younger livestock when their dens are located closer to human settlements than those away from human occupied areas. Juveniles and old adults of wild ungulates dominated the striped hyena dens than the prime adults and this was reversed in the case of livestock ungulates.

Skeletal ontogeny of xenarthrans is poorly known, especially because of the paucity of study specimens from distinct developmental stages. Here, we investigate morphometric aspects of the mandible ontogeny in the two-toed sloths, Choloepus spp. We examined mandibles of infant, juveniles and subadult sloths that were present in kill assemblages of harpy eagles, Harpia harpyja , and complemented our study with adult museum specimens. We carried out uni- and multivariate linear morphometric analyzes to assess the growth pattern of the mandible. Harpy eagles did not prey on adult two-toed sloths, preferring younger individuals. We found an overall strong correlation between the total length of the mandible and other mandibular measurements across age classes, with some of them scaling isometrically, and others presenting allometric growth. Also, morphometric data correlated with patterns of symphysial fusion across ontogenetic stages, rendering the latter a reliable indicator of the animal’s age category. Although it was necessary to complement our sample with museum material, individuals obtained from the harpy eagle kill assemblage proved to be a valuable complementary source of specimens to be studied.

The Indian pangolin ( Manis crassicaudata ) is the only member of the order Pholidota found in Pakistan. The current study was designed to compare the mortality rate and causes of mortality of Indian pangolin from eight districts, i.e., four from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and four from Punjab, Pakistan during 2019–2022. Data were collected by using self-designed questionnaires ( n  = 340) and social media reports. Most of the data were collected from Facebook 53 %, followed by Instagram (22 %), WhatsApp (17 %), and OLX (10 %). Mean and standard deviation were computed for district-wise killing (mean ± SD 15.25 ± 10.21), season-wise killing (mean ± SD 30.50 ± 9.8), month wise killing (mean ± SD 10.38 ± 4.19) and area wise killing (mean ± SD 40.7 ± 17.6). The killing of 179 Indian pangolins was recorded in four districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while in Punjab 59 Indian pangolins were killed. According to interviewees, 33 % of the mortality of Indian pangolin was caused by illegal killing followed by human settlement (17 %), agricultural practices (13 %), mites and ticks (11 %), natural mortality (8 %), accidents (7 %), myth (6 %), and floods (5 %). District wildlife departments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab arrested many people (KPK n  = 83, Punjab n  = 57) during 2019–2022. The highest fines were imposed by the Chakwal Wildlife Department, i.e., 20,000–60,000 PKR along with 1–4 months of imprisonment sentences. Eight dead pangolins were recovered among those six were male (75 %) and two were female (25 %). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that PC appears to be influenced the most by mites and ticks (MT), myth, natural mortality (NM) and “flood” given their strong loadings. PC2 was heavily influenced by killed for illegal trade (KFIT), accident, and agriculture practices (AP) due to their significant negative loadings. PC3 has NM and AP as the dominant variables, KFIT, also playing a role but in the opposite direction. PC4 showed strong influences from NM (negative) and flood (positive). We concluded that the illegal killing of Indian pangolin is very high. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect these unique and endangered creatures.

We examined the feeding habits and seasonal changes in invasive masked palm civets ( Paguma larvata ) in northern Japan, to understand their feeding strategies. Between 2020 and 2022, we collected 98 fecal samples from masked palm civets and analyzed their content. The civets fed mainly on fruits (78 % in terms of the point-frame method) and arthropods (15 %); fruits were consumed throughout the year, but increased in winter when arthropods were not available. The feeding plasticity of masked palm civets, in addition to their physical and behavioral adaptations, enables them to expand their distribution in introduced habitats in temperate regions.

The marsh rat ( Holochilus chacarius ) is considered a specialist herbivorous rodent. In this study, we report the first predation event of an anuran ( Pseudis platensis ) by a marsh rat in the Pantanal wetlands, South America. This unprecedent event in a flooded wetland in the municipality of Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul state, southwestern Brazil. Due to the flashlight, the rodent ceased its predatory activity and left, carrying the anuran in its mouth. Our findings contribute to the natural history of the marsh rat, highlighting that this herbivorous rodent can incorporate fresh animal matter into its diet.

The rapid increase of urbanization across the tropics has transformed natural landscapes into intensely modified environments, challenging native species to thrive in human-dominated spaces. Frugivorous bats perform vital ecological roles in urban landscapes, preventing the further decline of seed dispersal dynamics. The “cumbaru” tree Dipteryx alata  – a large native species widely distributed throughout Cerrado savannahs of South America – serves as an important food resource for wildlife. In this study, we documented and quantified the cumbaru potential dispersal performed by Artibeus sp. in an urban area located in the limits between Cerrado and Pantanal (Cáceres municipality, Mato Grosso, Brazil). Our results revealed that, during 21 nights of observation, individuals of Artibeus sp. transported 27 fruits at a distance of approximately 35 m. Our observations on the dynamics of seed dispersal by bats in an urban context provide preliminary, but important, insights for management actions to ensure the maintaining of species interactions and biodiversity conservation across human-dominated landscapes.

The bushy-tailed opossum Glironia venusta is a rare marsupial from Amazonia, with most of the known records obtained through scant visualization/photography events or by few captures/deposit of specimens in scientific collections. This study presents unusual records for the species: the first record of individuals dead due to vehicle collision, and a specimen opportunistically trapped into a mistnet. The data presented herein provide additional morphometrical data and ecological insights about G. venusta . Although this species is considered essentially arboreal, our records indicate that movements on ground are part of its habits.

Amazonian tropical forests host the highest bat diversity in South America. The central area Brazilian Amazon encompasses one of the largest pristine areas within this biome, where Amanã and Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserves (SDRs) are located. These two reserves hold the status of Priority Areas for Biodiversity Conservation due to their high biological relevance. The aim of this study was to identify the bat species richness within these SDRs to minimize the Wallacean shortfall of the chiropterofauna in the Amazon. A total of 274 specimens, collected 20 years ago and housed in the mammal collection at the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, were sorted and identified. They are distributed across four families, 18 genera, and 26 species: Artibeus planirostris and Carollia perspicillata were the most abundant vouchers. We identified a range extension for Carollia benkeithi and a possible new taxon for the genus Micronycteris .

Genetic techniques have allowed to identify a number of cryptic species of bats and to better define their distribution ranges and conservation status. Long-eared bats Plecotus spp. occur throughout Eurasia and Africa, with a high number of morphologically similar species, often occurring in sympatry. Therefore, disentangling the distribution of one species from another may be challenging. Italy represents a diversity hotspot for long-eared bats in Europe, hosting six species belonging to the genus Plecotus . In this study we report on both published and unpublished investigations on the Alpine long-eared bat Plecotus macrobullaris by integrating field and molecular methods, as well as opportunistic verified records from citizen scientists (i.e., individuals showing the diagnostic triangular chin pad in photos), to redefine the distribution of this species in Italy. We retrieved a total of 149 published records and 16 new confirmed records, namely 7 from iNaturalist, 6 from Facebook and 3 from molecular analyses. In Italy, the species occurs throughout the Alpine and Pre-Alpine chain, as well as in close proximity to the sea, and in Northeastern plains. Based on new records, we proved that it occurs also in other areas, including the Northern Apennine ridge. Our findings call for the application of an integrated approach in investigating cryptic species, that provides valuable data to support conservation assessments and the establishment of proper protection measures for poorly known species.

We report the first record of the Great Himalayan leaf-nosed bat, Hipposideros armiger from a cave in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. We confirmed its identity using morphometric measurements and visual observations supplemented with photographs. This report steps up the number of national bat fauna, suggesting countrywide surveys for a comprehensive inventory of bats for Bangladesh.

The Giant Anteater ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ), facing threats from habitat degradation and hunting, remains a species of enigmatic behavior. This study analyzed camera trap data collected over 7700 camera trap nights in 49 stations near marked trees in Southern Guyana. A total of 883 Giant Anteater sightings were recorded, categorized into solitary adults (797), females with offspring (70), solitary juveniles (8), and paired adults (6). Meticulous observations documented various behaviors, distinguishing chemical (sniffing) and visual (scratching, climbing, hugging, rubbing) tree-marking from non-tree-marking behaviors (foraging, self-scratching, rolling, urinating/defecating). For solitary individual, a PCA revealed an inverse correlation between ignoring and sniffing (explaining 33.64 % of PC1), suggesting individuals engage in one behavior per observation. We observed an inverse correlation between hug/scratch/rub and climb (20.75 % of PC2). A weighted PCA assessing correlations by social categories, distinguishing marking behaviors from ignoring the tree (explaining 95.6 % of PC1). Scratching trees without climbing or hugging occurred from 3 pm to 1 am, with climbing most frequent between 8 and 10 pm. These behaviors were common during peak anteater sightings, peaking in May, with fewer observations in September. Overall, Giant Anteaters exhibit tree-marking behaviors, including scratching, climbing, and hugging and that a primary purpose for this behavior is communication.